Defense of Masyaf

The Defense of Masyaf, also called the Second Siege of Masyaf, was a failed attempt by the Knights Templar to take control of the Hashshashin stronghold of Masyaf in Syria during the Defense of the Crusader States.

Background
Knights Templar Grand Marshall Robert de Sable led an expedition to find the Ark of the Covenant from the Temple of Solomon, as it was an Apple of Eden. However, they were attacked by Altair Ibn-La'Ahad, Kadar al-Sayf, and Malik al-Sayf, three of the Hashshashin order, who were sent by Rashid ad-Din Sinan to secure the Apple first. Kadar was killed and Malik wounded, but he managed to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Al-Mualim, while Altair fled and abandoned the two. Shortly after, De Sable gathered a large Templar army and besieged the Masyaf stronghold of the Assassins nearby, hoping to track down the Apple and take it back.

Siege
The Templars attacked the village first, so as Abbas Sofian oversaw the evacuation of the inhabitants to the tower of Masyaf, Altair Ibn-La'Ahad held off the Templars. Eventually Al Mualim told the Assassins to fall back to the castle, where they were encountered by Robert and his army. De Sable informed Al Mualim that they would besiege the castle and kill all of the Assassins, but Al Mualim responded by telling him that the Assassins embraced death.

Meanwhile, Altair snuck to the tower behind the Templars and cut loose the ropes, letting loose the logs and crushing many of the Templars. De Sable fled with his few remaining men.

Aftermath
Al Mualim did not forgive Altair for his failure at the Temple nor his responsibility for the siege. He had him demoted and stabbed him with a knife in the waist, knocking him unconscious. However, Al Mualim told him that he saw what he wanted to see, so that he could awake and be reborn. He was given a chance at redemption, having been stripped of weapons and rank.